La Paz Weather in January

January feels wet

January is deep in La Paz's rainy season. Expect cool days, chilly evenings and frequent showers; the high reaches 16°C, while the low is 5°C. Rain falls on 21 days, and cloud often hides the mountain views.

That makes museums, cafés and the Witches' Market around Calle Linares good stops between showers. The Mi Teleférico cable cars still offer a useful way to cross the city, but clouds can spoil the views from above. Save long walks on exposed trails for a clearer day, and don't count on a sunny afternoon at Valle de la Luna.

Alasitas brings a crowd

The big January event is Alasitas, which opens on January 24. At this fair, people buy tiny versions of things they hope to own, from houses to cars, and offer them to Ekeko, the Andean god of abundance. It's a fun, distinctly local outing, but expect busy streets around the fair.

If you hate crowds, visit Alasitas early in its run or focus on quieter parts of the city. January is generally a quieter, cheaper time than the dry-season months from April to November, though the fair itself draws local visitors. January 22 is Bolivia's Plurinational State Day, a public holiday, so some services may change.

Make the rain work for you

Travelling with kids? A cable-car ride can turn a wet spell into an easy way to see different neighbourhoods without a long uphill walk.

For a practical rainy-day stop, head to the Witches' Market, then duck into a nearby café for api, a hot corn drink often served with a fried pastry called a buñuelo. If you're taking Mi Teleférico to El Alto, allow flexibility: showers and low cloud can make the ride less scenic, even when it's still useful for getting around.